I once heard that homesteading isn’t about where you are as much as who you are. It is described by some as the nearly self-sufficient lifestyle. By others it is being a good steward of the land. You may live in the wilderness or in a semi-rural community. You may have endured a cultural and environmental shock when you moved off the grid. The ultimate goal of any homesteader still remains. It is to provide as much as possible for his family from the land. As for me, I would have to recognize that homesteading is a learning process that never really ends. I am always working towards another goal and there remains immense satisfaction in being able to provide for one’s family no matter how small it may be. Homesteading means freedom to some and is simply an attitude to others. Whether it’s collecting rain water, cooking from scratch, raising backyard livestock, simplifying your life or just reducing your impact, all these ideals exist under homesteading. Maybe it is having elders to pass on their wisdom and knowledge. Perhaps just unplugging from technology or savouring the few spare minutes of quiet in the early morning hours describes your homesteading experience. Regardless of what it means to us, all these details are to be celebrated. The homesteader’s life can be a joyful and profound exercise in humility and self-awareness. Whatever it is to you, it is beautiful and rare and meant to be valued.Tracey Brussow
